Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae)
Author
Skelley, Paul E.
text
Insecta Mundi
2009
2009-07-24
2009
82
1
94
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.5405085
1942-1354
5405085
1E1E96BA-73BC-4457-9A32-637B0CFC8AE1
Altisessor hottensis
Skelley,
new species
Figure 1b
,
57, 60
,
70
,
72
Diagnosis.
Antennal club entirely dark, light colored femora with dark apices (
Fig. 60
), and hind wing reduced to membranous strip.
Description.
Length:
3.8 mm
; width:
1.8 mm
. Body elongate, parallel-sided, posteriorly narrowed, somewhat cylindrical; surface microreticulate, glossy; dorsally with moderately sized, dense punctation bearing long fine setae (
Fig. 57
). Color brown with a weak bronze sheen, except as noted: antennomeres I-II pale brown; antennomeres IX-XI dark brown; femur pale brown with dark brown apex (
Fig. 60
).
Head interocular width = 5 x ocular width; vertex and epistomal punctures both fine and coarse; coarse puncture size = 0.8 x ocular facet diameter, separated by 1-2 x their diameter; epistome anterior margin truncate. Eye facets moderate in size. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular with rounded base, length = 0.8 x width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = length, expanded medially, width = 0.66 x terminal maxillary palpomere. Mentum with weakly defined triangular plate, width = 1.5 x length. Genal lobes reduced to smooth, faint ridge.
Pronotum transverse, width = 1.8 x width; punctures of 2 sizes, coarser puncture size = 0.9 x ocular facet diameter, evenly distributed, separated by 1-2 x their diameter, coarse punctures absent at base and anterior margin; fine punctures interspersed between coarse punctures; coarse punctures bearing long fine setae; anterior edge with faint marginal bead medially, stronger behind eyes; base nearly truncate, lacking marginal bead. Scutellum semicircular, width = 2 x length. Elytral striae present, punctures slightly larger than interval punctures, puncture size = 0.9 x ocular facet diameter, separated by their diameter; strial punctures with fine setae; base lacking marginal bead, slightly indented near humeri for reception of pronotal hind angles. Wings reduced to a narrow, membranous strip.
Prosternum length = 1.5 x basal width; sternal plate flat; sternal lines continuous around coxal cavity; base concave. Mesosternum broad, width = 2.5 x length, with scattered coarse punctures, base concave, line continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum with lines faint medially; continuous around mesocoxal cavity; band of coarse punctures from lateral margins along posterior half, few scattered fine punctures. Abdomen with coxal lines not connecting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures of first ventrite smaller than metasternal punctures. Male genitalia with flagellum greatly thickened, laterally flattened; gradually widening to broad obliquely truncate apex (
Fig. 70
). Female unknown.
Distribution
. Known from Hispaniola, specifically the southwestern peninsula of
Haiti
, Massif de La Hotte (
Fig. 72
).
Type Material.
The male
holotype
of
Altisessor hottensis
Skelley (
Fig. 57, 60
) possesses the following label data: “/Desbarriette, Mf. La Hotte, nr.
4000ft
, Oct.12-14/
Haiti
, 1934, Darlington/ [red paper] HO- LOTYPE
Altisessor hottensis
P.E. Skelley /” (
MCZC
). The specific locality is possibly a misspelling of Desbarriere, a peak in the La Hotte range.
Etymology.
The specific epithet is derived from the mountain range on which the species occurs.